Watch The Med Alarm Phone Investigations – 13th of August 2018
Case name: 2018_08_13-WM309
Situation: 3 boats (1 Brought to Spain, 2 intercepted by MR)
Status of WTM Investigation: Concluded
Place of Incident: Western Mediterranean Sea

Summary of the Case: On August 13th, the Alarm Phone was alerted to 3 cases of distress of boats crossing the Western Mediterranean. 2 boats were intercepted and brought back to Morocco, and one was rescued to Spain

In the first case, at 9.25am CEST the Alarm Phone was informed of a boat carrying 38 people (including 7 women and 2 children). The shift team maintained constant contact with the boat throughout the morning, and the boat sent the team updated GPS positions throughout that time. At 11.16am, the shift team called Salvamento Maritimo with the boat’s latest coordinates, signaling a distress at sea. The shift team lost contact with the boat starting at 12.27, but at 12.36 received confirmation that the boat was rescued to Spain.

In the second case, a boat of 11 travellers (2 women, 1 pregnant and sick) contacted the Alarm Phone at 10.27am. The shift team tried to maintain contact with the boat, despite poor connection, and were able to get the position of the boat every once in a while. The shift team lost contact with the boat, but at 16.05pm, received a message that they had been brought back to Morocco.

In the third case, a boat of 11 travellers (including 1 woman) contacted the Alarm Phone at 14.29pm, and gave the shift team their position. Throughout the afternoon, the shift team tried to contact the boat, but was not able to get in contact. At 20.20pm, the shift team got in touch with MRCC Rabat and Salvamento Maritimo to get further information at the boat. Both confirmed that 2 boats with 11 travellers had been rescued. At 20.45pm, the shift team received confirmation that the boat had been taken back to Morocco